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A close-up of a bowl of hearty black-eyed pea soup with chunks of ham and wilted greens.

Beginner Black-Eyed Pea Soup

This easy black-eyed pea soup recipe is perfect for beginners. It's a hearty and flavorful soup that comes together with simple ingredients and straightforward steps.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Soaking Time 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 345
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Soup
  • 1 pound black-eyed peas dried
  • 4-5 slices bacon thick, chopped
  • 0.5 pound ham hocks or smoked turkey
  • 1 large onion diced (about 1½ cup)
  • 2 stalks celery diced (about ½ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons thyme fresh, minced
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 6-7 cups chicken broth or water
  • 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
  • 1.5 cup spinach fresh chopped
  • to taste salt and pepper

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Large, heavy pot

Method
 

  1. Add the dried black-eyed peas to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let them sit for 2-3 hours.
  2. In a large, heavy pan, saute chopped bacon until brown and crispy, 5-6 minutes.
  3. Add in the ham hocks and saute for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the onions, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf and saute for about 3-5 minutes until the onions are wilted.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth or water.
  6. Drain the soaked beans, rinse, and place them in the pot. Season with Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir and bring to a boil.
  7. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes while stirring occasionally, or until the beans are tender and have the desired consistency.
  8. Add the fresh chopped spinach.
  9. Add more stock or water if your beans become thick and dry. The texture of the beans should be soupy.
  10. Remove the bay leaves and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve with fresh bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 10gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 273mgPotassium: 342mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 769IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg

Notes

You can soak the beans in cold water with three tablespoons of salt for 3-4 hours before cooking to soften them and add more flavor. If you are short on time, you can skip soaking, but the beans will typically take ten more minutes to cook. Alternatively, you can do a quick soak: cover the black-eyed peas with at least two inches of water, bring to a boil, turn off the heat, let the peas rest for an hour, and then start cooking. Cooking beans in their soaking water, unless you are concerned about digestive issues, results in more flavorful beans.

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